Packing of cigarettes and other articles



May 23, 1939. G. D. HORGAN PACKING OF CIGARETTES AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed Jan. 27, 1937 2 s s 1 IN VENTOR v GEORGE DANIEL HORGAN ATTORNEY- Egi Fig.2

y 1939- G. D. HORGAN 2,159,158

PACKING OF CIGARETTES AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed Jan. 2'7, 1957 g sh t -sheet 2 Fig 5 o INVENTOR GEORGE DANIEL HORGAN ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKING OF CIGARETTES AND ARTICLES George Daniel Horgan, London,

ornsa v England, assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company,

New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of New Jersey Application January 27, 1937, Serial No.

In Great Britain January 30, 1936 10 Claims.

This invention relates to the packeting of cigarettes and other articles wherein such are enclosed within a carton of the slide and shell type.

The invention is more particularly concerned with the slide which in its flat form it will be appreciated comprises a central base portion having attached thereto side wall portions, and end wall portions, the latter also having tuck-in flaps. These parts are defined by score lines to facilitate folding.

It is the usual practice in connection with the packeting of cigarettes in completing the enclosing of the cigarettes in the slide, to fold up an end wall (or both walls simultaneously) and then to fold down the tuck-in flap on to the cigarettes. It is found that the final folding down of the tuck-in flap (or flaps) is liable to damage the cigarettes (or the upper row in the case of multiple row packets). This damage is caused by pressure of the flap on the cigarettes which deforms the end especially in loose end cigarettes. Also the cigarettes are liable to be flattened and marked with a crease at a distance from the ends according to the size of the flap. This marking may also be applied to foil wrapping when such is used.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved method of folding whereby these disadvantages are avoided. 1 According to the present invention the tuck-in flap (or flaps) of a slide of the type described is folded up relatively to the end wall before the latter is moved to its position. The end wall is then erected or bent up with consequential movement of the tuck-in flap into position over the cigarettes. By this method no pressure is applied to the cigarettes by the movement of the flap to its closure position.

The invention also consists in mechanism for carrying out the improved method of folding which according to the preferred form comprises a stationary folding barv and spaced ploughs, means being provided for moving the slide relatively to the bar and ploughs whereby the tuck-in flap is folded up against the bar which forms an abutment for retaining the end wall of the slide in extension of the base of the slide, continued movement bringing the end wall of the slide into engagement with a ramp or plough whereby it is folded up into position.

Preferably the movements are imparted to the slide by an intermittently rotating turret or table.

Means are preferably provided for separating the flap of a foil wrapping from the end wall and tuck-in flap of the slide.

Further features of the invention will be hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figures 1 to 3 are elevations of a slide showing the steps in the improved method.

Figure 4 is a plan of folding and erecting mechanism in association with an intermittently rotating slide carrying turret or table.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a folding or abutment bar.

Figures 6 and 7 are detail views of means for separating the foil flap from the end wall and tuck-in flap of a slide.

Figure 8 is an end elevation of the tuck-in flap folding or erecting means; and

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a plough or ramp for folding or erecting the end wall of a slide.

The improved method of folding the end wall and tuck-in flap of a slide according to the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

In Figure 1 the slide is illustrated having one end wall and tuck-in flap in the folded position while the other end wall In and tuck-in flap ll lie in the plane of the base portion l2 of the slide. While the parts are in this position the bundle of cigarettes is inserted in the slide whereupon the tuck-in fiap I l is erected as illustrated in Figure 2 by being bent upwardly about the scored line I3. The end wall It is then bent upwardly about the scored line M which action brings the tuck-in flap ll into position over the cigarettes the end wall it] being brought to its final closing position as shown in Figure 3. The erection of the tuck-in flap and the movement of the end wall i0 is effected by any suitable mechanical devices.

It is not essential that both ends of the slide be dealt with in the same way, and the sequence of operations with regard to the end wall and tuck-in flap at the other end of the slide may be followed according to normal practice, as the difiiculty of damaging cigarettesdoes not arise with this end, the slide being empty at this stage of the operation of packing.

The invention will now be described with reference to suitable mechanical means for effecting the erection of the end wall and tuck-in flap and for convenience the various folding elements will be described in their application to an intermittently rotating turret or table adapted to be moved about a vertical axis. Such table may be Specification No. 32187/1935.

' Referring to Figures 4 to 9 the turret or table i5 is provided with slide-receiving elements l6 arranged radially thereof, only one of these elements .being illustrated. The position of the other elements is indicated by the radial grooves l'l' with which projections on the slide-receiving elements are adapted to engage. The slides, of which one is indicated in position, are fed into the receiving elements l6 from a radial feeding device whichl forms no part of the present invention. As the table 15 rotates the slides having one end wall and tuck-in flap erected by any suitable means are brought to a position indicated by the radial centre line-l8 in which they are aligned with a feeding device indicated generally by the reference l9 by which bundles of cigarettes are fed into the slides, the outer end of thefslide when in this position being open with the end.wall and tuck-in flap in alignment with the base portion. The means for feeding the bundle of cigarettes into the slide forms no partof the present invention and further description thereof is unnecessary. When the slides arrive at the position l8, l8, the inner end wall and tuck-in-fiap are in the erected position and the end wall abuts against the vertical guide wall 20, the tuck-in flap being disposed beneath the hold-down plate 2! fixed to the guide wall.

In the example under consideration the bundles of cigarettes are provided with a foil wrapping or covering, the foil being of the character in which the sheet is adapted to be turned over the ends of the cigarettes and not fully wrapped. With this type of foiling when the bundle is inserted in the slide the rear end of the sheet of foil lies flat upon the extended end wall and tuck-in flap of the slide, and it is necessary before bending up the end-wall and tuck-in flap to separate the projecting end of the foil, otherwise such may become crumpled. For this purpose means are provided adapted to separate the end of the foil from the end wall and tuck-in flap and this is attained by bending the end wall and tuck-in fiap downwardly. This is effected by an inclined tongue piece 22 which is fixed in position relatively to the rotating table. This tongue piece lies in the path of the projecting tuck-in flap and is provided with an inclined wall 22" (Figure 7) which causes the projecting part of the slide to be bent downwardly as the slide is carried past the tongue piece.

While the end wall and tuck-in flap are held in this downwardly bent position by the tongue 22 they are fed by the rotary movement of the table beneath the end of an arcuate abutment rail 23 or folding bar, the leading end 24 of which separates the projecting end of the foil from the end wall of the slide. Continued movement of the slide causes the foil end to ride up the sloping surface 29 of the abutment rail while the projecting part of the slide moves beneath the rail. The abutment rail 23 provides a member against which the tuck-in flap is adapted to be bent while maintaining the end wall of the slide in alignment with the base portion. For this purpose the abutment rail is provided with a horizontal surface 25 beneath which the end wall of the slide is adapted to travel as indicated in Figure 8. The abutment rail is also provided with an inclined surface 26 arranged at any suitable angle to the surface 25 and forming a folding edge 36 which is adapted to coincide more or less with the scored line l3 of the slide whereby the tuck-in flap may be folded up relatively to the end wall of the slide.

For the purpose of turning the tuck-in flap upwardly about the folding edge 36 a fixed plough member or folder 2! is provided which is of curved form (see Figure 8) and has a part overlying the abutment rail. The plough 21 has a leading edge 28 adapted to engage beneath the tuck-in flap and raise this and turn it over about the score line and onto the inclined face 26 of the abutment rail. It will be noted that the surface 26 is inclined at an angle which is less than a right-angle (for example about 60) to the horizontal surface 25 so as to give a sufificient bend to the tuck-in flap to counteract its tending to spring back more or less into alignment with the end wall. It is, however, not essential that this wall should be inclined to the position indicated as a right-angle bend would be sufficient provided means, such as a guard wall, were arranged to prevent the tuck-in flap springing back. 1

As the slide with the tuck-in flap bent upwardly is moved on by the turret and leaves the plough or folder 2'! it passes into engagement with a second folder or ramp 30 which is adapted to bend up the end wall l0 about the appropriate score line I4. This ramp 30 is provided with an inclined wall 3| (see Figure 9) which extends downwardly beneath the plane of the end. During the first part of the action of the ramp 30 the end wall of the slide is engaged by a tapering end portion 32 of the abutment rail 23, such end portion being relatively thin and positioned so that it engages the end wall In as near as possible to the score line ll about which the end wall is to be bent.

The final turning over of the end wall and tuck-in flap is effected by a movement beneath a fixed plate 33 which has an inclined surface 34 adapted to bring the flap and end wall into their final position, after which the slide is moved beneath a cover plate 35 which holds the flap down until the slide with its foiled bundleof cigarettes is removed from the table for insertion into the shell of the carton.

Top and side fences or guides 31 and 38 are provided for holding the slide in position, the side fence 38 adjacent the abutment'rail 23 being tapered off where it co-operates with the curved surface 29 of the rail which is effective in the separation of the foil end from the extending wall and flap of the slide.

The tapered end 32 of the abutment rail 23 may overlap the ramp 30 as shownin Figure 4 or may terminate at,a point nearer the commencement of the ramp. Moreover, the lower edge of a the end 32 of the rail 23 may be tapered upwardly.

The plough or folder 2! is carried by a mounting 39 which extends across the turret l5 and is pivoted on a bracket 40 on a stationary member 4i within the turret. The mounting 39 also carries the abutment rail or folding bar 23 and the fences 31 and 38. The folding bar is adjustably mounted on the mounting 39 by brackets'42 and bolts 43. The mounting 39 is provided with adjustable set screws 44 adapted to engage the hold-down plates 2| whereby vertical adjustment of the folding bar 23 and folder 2! may be effected.

The above illustrative example of means by which this invention may be desirably carried into effect is not intended to exclude the utilization of other embodiments of the basic idea of means which underlies the present invention.

While the aim of the invention is to provide an improved method of folding the slides of slide and shell cartons whereby damage to the cigarettes therein is avoided, it will be obvious that the method may be employed in packeting other commodities in cartons of this type.

I claim:

1. Mechanism for closing the end-wall-panel and tuck-in-flap of the slide of a slide-andshell carton, said mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a table thereon adapted to receive a succession of spaced apart carton slides, and upon which table said slides are disposed with their end-wall-panels and adjoining tuckin-flaps extended in open position beyond the table edge, a series of folding members mounted in spaced successive positions upon a part of said supporting structure adjacent to said table edge, and having a configuration adapted to fold the end-panels and tuck-in-flaps of the carton slides as said flaps and panels are caused to be engaged successively with the folding members exclusively by relative bodily traversing movement as between the table with its carton slides and the part of said supporting structure upon which said folding members are mounted, said folding members including an abutment rail adapted to be engaged with each end-panel and its tuck-inflap, a folding element adapted to bend said flap over said rail, along the fold line adjoining said end-panel, preparatory to closing movement of the end-panel, a folding element adapted to bend said end panel bodily with its flap to close them over the end of the carton slide, and means to effect said relative traversing movement as between said table with its slides and said part of the supporting structure with said folding members.

2. Mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are mounted on the supporting structure in advance of the abutment rail for engagement with the as yet unbent tuck-in-flap, and adapted to impart a temporary downward bend to said flap and the adioining end-wall-panel bodily, whereby they are guided beneath the abutment rail on relative movement between the table and said rail.

3. Mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the folding edge of the abutment rail is formed between the bottom face of the rail and a surface inclined at an acute angle thereto, in cooperation with which surfaces said folding element coacts to bend the flap to an angle less than a right angle relatively to the end wall panel.

4. Mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folding edge of the abutment rail is formed between the bottom face of the rail and a surface inclined at an acute angle thereto, in cooperation with which surfaces said folding element coacts to bend the flap to an angle less than a right angle relatively to the end wall panel, and wherein the abutment rail is provided with a tapered end adapted to engage and lift the flap of a foil wrapping element prior to the folding of the tuck-in-flap.

5. Mechanism for closing the end-wall-panels and tuck-in-flaps of the slides of slide-and-shell cartons, said mechanism having the features claimed in claim l, in which said abutment rail has a folding edge and is adapted to overlie the end-wall-panel and hold it against upward movement, and in which said folding element is supported in position to underlie the tuck-in-flap and cause it to fold upward about said folding edge.

6- Mechanism for closing the end-wall-panels and tuck-in-flaps of the slides of slide-and shell cartons, said mechanism having the features claimed in claim 1, and in which said table is formed as a rotatable disk with holding means for said slides spaced around its periphery, and said folding means are fixed upon the supporting structure circumjacent to said periphery.

7. Mechanism for closing the end-wall-panels and tuck-in-flaps of the slides of slide-and-shell cartons, comprising a supporting structure, a rotary table thereon for supporting and conveying the slides, and folding members including an abutment rail fixed on said supporting structure adjacent to the edge of the table, and a folding element on said structure overlapping and cooperating with said abutment rail, said rail and folding element being so disposed that as the table rotates it moves each slide in its turn to bring its end-wall-panel under the abutment rail, and concurrently to bring its adjoining tuck-infiap into engagement under the folding element and over the abutment rail and thus, by virtue of such cooperative engagement, the tuck-in-flap is folded relatively to the end-wallpanel while the latter is in the plane of the base portion of the slide, said folding members including another folding element mounted on said support at an advanced position relatively to said rail and firstnamed folding element, and acting subsequently thereto, to bend the end-wall-panel and tuck-inflap bodily upward and over in an arcuate path as the panel and flap are moved past said lastnamed folding element, in engagement therewith.

8. Mechanism as claimed in claim 7 wherein the folding element comprises a plate of curved section and having a leading edge adapted to engage beneath the 'tuck-in-fiap, said leading edge merging into a part of the curved plate which overlies the abutment rail.

9. Mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein the folding element comprises a plate of curved section and having a leading edge adapted to engage beneath the tuck-in-flap, said leading edge merging into a part of the curved plate which overlies the abutment rail, and wherein the trailing end of the abutment rail is tapered to provide an edge about which the end wall of the slide is to be folded, and a folding ramp located adjacent the end of the rail and with which said end wall is adapted to be engaged by the rotary movement of the table.

10. Mechanism as claimed in claim 7 wherein the folding element comprises a plate of curved section and has a leading edge adapted to engage beneath the tuck-in-flap, said leading edge merging into a part of the curved plate which overlies the abutment rail, and wherein the trail ing end of the abutment rail is tapered to pro vide an edge about which the end wall of the slide is to be folded, and a folding ramp located adjacent the ,end of the rail and with which said end waliis adapted to engage by the rotary movement of the table, said folding ramp having a surface overlying the path of the slide and adapted to engage the tuck-in slide and move it to its final position.

GEORGE DANIEL HORGAN. 

